01x04 - A Rumor of Love

[bunniefuu]

[tense music plays]

[man 1] Word of my love...

[tense music continues]

[man 1] Word of my love...

[man 2] Tadami Mibu. What a pathetic man.

To think that he now prowls the palace
as a vengeful spirit.

[man 3] There he goes. How sad!

[Tadami] Word of my love...

[man 2] "Although I hide it

The feeling is quite clear upon my face"

[Tadami cries]

-"My love makes people ask..."
-[man 3] Hey!

[man 2] "Who holds this special place?"

[Tadami] So bitter.

[gasps]

[Tadami] So bitter!

[both gasp]

So bitter!

[men scream]

[rock music plays]

ONMYOJI

[rock music continues]

[music stops]

EPISODE 4:
A RUMOR OF LOVE

[man 1] Can you believe he turned violent?

Pardon. Who are you talking about?

The vengeful spirit of Tadami Mibu.

Wait. A vengeful spirit?

In life, this individual
was a poet of some renown.

But during last year's poetry contest
at the palace,

he lost against Kanemori Taira,
and soon after, died in anguish.

That sounds awful.

[man 2] Then, he turned.

Now a vengeful spirit, he recites
the poem he lost with every night,

wandering the grounds of the palace
all the while.

And as I was saying before,

I heard that he assaulted
some people last night.

Truly?

The night began
much the same as any other.

But when one of the men
recited Lord Kanemori's winning poem...

What happened?

-[man 1 yells]
-[screams]

You shouldn't go kick a hornet's nest
unless you enjoy getting stung.

Ah! Why don't you join us, Lord Hiromasa?

We can all discuss how to deal with Tadami
before the emperor learns of his attack.

[Hiromasa] I'm afraid
I'll have to decline.

I'm sure it's only a matter of time

before I'm sent
to ask for Seimei's help once again.

-[flute music plays]
-Oh!

[flute music continues]

[music fades]

[Hiromasa] A marvelous performance,
as always!

[man] Ah, Hiromasa!

Good to see you, Lord Atsumi.
It's been ages.

[Atsumi] I see you've gotten taller
since I last saw you.

I'm a full-grown adult, you know!

In some ways, perhaps.

But in others, you are very much a child.

[Hiromasa] Well, I was in a hurry!

I was told that you left the capital

in order to study
some kind of ghostly melody.

Was that the song, by any chance?

I had no idea you were listening.

I hope you were not offended
by a sour note here and there.

You're being much too modest.

There was nothing displeasing about it.

I would have happily stood here
and listened all night long if possible.

Honestly, that song
was quite difficult to learn.

Your words made the toil worth it.

No sheet music exists
for the tune, you see.

Chasing rumors is the only way
one can learn it.

[tranquil music plays]

I never would have imagined you would
become so close with Lord Seimei Abe.

We really aren't close in any way.

People just assume if they can
get me to ask him to do something,

he'll go along with it.

The fact he died in anguish
from just one defeat.

Tadami didn't have the thickest spine
now, did he?

Yes, it was certainly nothing to die over.

[Atsumi] If true mastery
is akin to climbing a long staircase,

stumbling just a step shy of one's goal
can plunge them into an abyss.

Ah! If it isn't
the Imperial Prince Atsumi!

Naturally, the capital's greatest master
of music would hear things differently.

Wait, I thought that title
belonged to Lord Hiromasa.

You fool! Who do you think it was

that Lord Hiromasa
learned his music from in the first place?

Forgive him. He's still
merely an ignorant, new arrival.

[chuckles] I don't mind.

It can't be argued
Hiromasa's flute-playing is splendid.

Keeps me on my toes.

[Hiromasa] Impossible.

-[man] Say, Lord Hiromasa...
-What is it?

In discussing this case, we realized,

it seems much better suited to an onmyoji
than one of our station.

See? What'd I tell you...

You do have Seimei Abe
eating out of the palm of your hand, yes?

[groans] I couldn't get him to do that
even if he were starving.

Sorry to disappoint you,
but coming to me won't get Seimei...

[man] Anyway, we were thinking,

what if you were to go
investigate the situation?

Huh?

Go see for yourself
if Tadami is in fact a threat or not.

Then, if you decide
to enlist the help of Seimei, well,

we will leave that to your discretion.

I don't know.

Sounds good.

Indeed. Press on!

We all agree.
If you would please oblige us.

-[men] Lend us your aid.
-No, I...

[Hiromasa gulps]

[groans] Fine then.

I'll do it.

You haven't changed a bit,
have you, Hiromasa? So generous.

[Hiromasa sighs]

Why is it I can never just say no?

[Seimei] You're easily distracted.

[Hiromasa exhales] Seimei.

-[Seimei chuckles]
-Why are you here at this time of night?

A certain someone requested it.

I'm to quell the vengeful spirit of Tadami
which roams the palace.

There would be trouble
if I declined their request.

Huh. So there really is someone
who can make him cooperate.

-Hm?
-[Hiromasa] Uh, no. Nothing.

[Seimei] So, have you seen
this "vengeful spirit" with your own eyes?

[Hiromasa] Actually, I met Lord Tadami
when he was alive, at the contest.

Really? You know nothing of poetry
yet you were there?

Not everyone who helps out
with the contests have a knack for poetry.

Don't you know how they operate?

-Never cared.
-[Hiromasa sputters]

Well, I am going to explain it to you now.

[drum music plays]

[Hiromasa] Noblemen and court ladies
sponsor poets,

who are divided into left and right rows.

Each row has their poems read,
then a judge declares a winner.

These master poets
have been given various themes

and have composed poems
for each theme ahead of the contest.

Lord Tadami was one of the poets
on the left side.

And on that day,

I was tasked with reciting aloud the poems
for the right side of the room.

[Seimei chuckles] Sounds like the type
of extravagant and unnecessary event

that man would revel in.

You know I don't like it when you refer
to the emperor with such contempt.

What happened with Lord Tadami?

He competed against Lord Kanemori Taira,
who was on the right,

with a love-themed poem.

Both were considered equally excellent,

and yet, Lord Kanemori's was the winner.

Hm. Is that all the information
you have on Lord Tadami?

Not quite.

"Although I hide it..."

[sighs] That's not it.

-[Tadami] Is something wrong?
-Oh!

[Hiromasa] You are...

Oh, sorry for not introducing myself.

Uh, I am... My name is Tadami Mibu.

Ordinarily, I serve
as a senior clerk in Settsu,

but my poem is being read here today.

Really? That's great!

I can tell from the look in your eyes
something is troubling you.

Well, I'm the presenter
for the right side today.

The problem is I can't write poems myself,

so I'm not sure I'll be able
to convey the proper feelings.

-[Tadami] You have nothing to worry about.
-Hm?

So short-lived
The flowers flutter, scatter and spread

Carried by spring
Which knows not where it heads

[Hiromasa] Hm.

Pray tell, what did you feel
when you heard that poem?

Um, I guess
some sort of sorrow or melancholy?

And there you have it.

When you listen to a poem,
emotions are conjured within your heart.

If it was written with purpose,

the author's intentions will be conveyed
naturally to the audience.

Well spoken.

You really have a brilliant mind.

Not at all. I'm just obsessed with poetry.

[chuckles] In no way, shape or form
do I deserve such kind words.

[gentle music plays]

[chuckles]

I couldn't have imagined at the time
he would become a demon.

People are never quite as they appear.

Uh, Seimei,

I can't believe Lord Tadami is evil.

He can't be.

He loved poetry so much and continues
composing it even after his death.

It must be a mistake.

Is exorcising his spirit the only option?

[Seimei] Even if I said yes,
it's not so simple.

Huh?

[Seimei] According to the stories
about his spirit,

he first appeared here at the palace
one year ago.

If that's true,
exorcising him will be far from easy.

Why would that make things harder?

[Seimei] He's here.

[Tadami] Word of my love...

[Seimei chants]

[Seimei chants]

-Uh...
-[Seimei continues chanting]

[gasps]

[distant roaring]

[Hiromasa gasps and groans]

As I thought.

[Hiromasa gasps]

[distant roaring]

[tense music plays]

Did... Did you see what happened just now?

Uh...

[Hiromasa gasps]

[music fades]

He vanished.

It would seem that he is connected
to the palace's energy veins.

[Hiromasa] What are those?

As there are veins
which our blood travels through,

the earth and edifices have
their own veins which ki runs through.

-Do you follow me so far?
-Yes.

As Lord Tadami's vengeful spirit
has lingered here for some time,

these energy veins
which run all throughout the palace

have fully acclimated to his presence.

If I try to exorcise him,

I may summon
something truly malevolent instead.

-Like whatever I just saw.
-Hm.

I guess there's no choice.
We'll leave him alone...

I'm afraid that won't do either.

At the very least,
we must ensure he won't attack again.

Then what do you plan to do?

An expedition to ascertain the source
that fuels Lord Tadami's bitterness.

Ah, it sure gets muggy
the instant it stops raining. Oh!

It's about time.

[Seimei] So, where are we going today?

[Hiromasa] I was told,
when he would visit the capital,

Lord Tadami would always spend the night
in the station instead of an inn.

Really? He preferred to sleep
where the men who guard the gate do?

Right.

I was surprised myself
when I found out that's where he stayed.

That was a truly tragic time for us.

Can you tell us what you remember?

[gatekeeper] Immediately
after the poetry contest,

Lord Tadami had no interest
in food whatsoever.

That seems unusual.

[gatekeeper] Lord Tadami,
you must eat something.

[gatekeeper] Perhaps his defeat
made him so bitter

he could not bring himself
to swallow food.

Of my love has soon spread far and...

[gatekeeper] Our words couldn't reach him.

[Tadami] Word of my love...

[gatekeeper] And eventually...

[Hiromasa] He starved to death.

I was in utter disbelief.

I had never seen a loss
plunge him into despair like this.

Hm?

You're implying that last year
wasn't the first defeat he experienced?

Correct. There had been several.

But each time, he would say,
"My opponent's poem was sublime."

"There is nothing more to be said".

Then, he would just laugh it off.

In other words, there was something
different about last year's contest.

Could losing to Lord Kanemori have
affected him so much he died from it?

Tell me, do any of his belongings
still remain here?

[Hiromasa strains]

It's about time.

Hurry! Before I turn gray, please.

[Hiromasa groans]

I could have used your help
hauling this over!

And subject people
to the sight of two men lumbering about?

I can't imagine anything more undignified.

Interesting.

[Hiromasa] It's poetry.
A whole lot from the looks of it.

[Seimei] He must have been
quite the scholarly type.

Oh!

Hm.

Seimei, I don't think I realized
what kind of life Lord Tadami had.

And why do you say that?

It doesn't seem
like his rank was very high.

[Hiromasa] I hate to say it,
but he probably wasn't well off.

No doubt he loved poetry,

but for people in need,
these contests can also help them

to win favor from the emperor
and court officials.

Lord Tadami spent his meager income
not on clothing or housing,

but on paper and books
to further his craft.

Meaning he was willing to stake everything
on that poetry contest.

If he couldn't win
a better life for himself,

it's no wonder he would die of anguish.

But he spoke so kindly towards me,
I never suspected for a moment...

[Seimei] Things may be different
than you imagine.

Hm? How so?

The actual source
of Lord Tadami's bitterness,

I may have surmised it.

It has been a long time.

I believe we met just last year
at the Imperial Palace.

For the contest.

And to what do I owe this...

-[Seimei] Although I hide it...
-[gasps]

The feeling is quite clear upon my face

My love makes people ask
Who holds this special place?

Oh come now!
Show a little courtesy, would you?

Lord Kanemori, did you compose that poem
last year and best Lord Tadami with it?

Yes, that is correct.

-[Seimei] Then could you explain this?
-Hm?

[intriguing music plays]

[Hiromasa] "Although I hide it..." Wait.

Why, that's Lord Kanemori's poem
you just read.

But I don't see his name credited there.

That's because the author is,
in fact, anonymous.

-What?
-[Kanemori gasps]

The official anthology of poems

rejected a number of works
for one reason or another,

and this volume collects those rejections.

They were all composed
at least one hundred years ago.

Quite the enigma, is it not?

You certainly don't look like a man who's
been alive for a century, Lord Kanemori.

I had no idea it was one of those poems.

I profusely apologize.

What are you talking about?

[Kanemori] The truth is I didn't
compose that poem for the contest.

I had heard a man mumbling it
in the street as he passed me by.

You what?

[Kanemori] I had never heard it before
and was captivated by it.

I assumed, because the man
appeared to be destitute,

no one would be the wiser
if I were to make use of the poem.

To think it was a documented relic...

Where did you find this?

-It was among Lord Tadami's belongings.
-[Kanemori gasps]

I had no idea.

Does this mean Lord Tadami
realized the poem was plagiarized?

It would certainly seem so.

Then why didn't he speak up
about that fact during the poetry contest?

[Kanemori] I'd say

it was a matter of decorum.

[gentle music plays]

"Although I hide it

-The feeling is quite clear upon my face."
-[Tadami gasps]

"My love makes people ask
Who holds this special place?"

Wait, that poem is...

-[man 1] Exquisite!
-[man 2] Indeed, splendid!

'Twas a lovely poem.

It really personified the theme of love.

If I am not mistaken, that poem is...

Brilliant.

[gentle music fades]

Indeed. A truly immaculate poem.

[Tadami gasps] Oh.

[Kanemori] The victors
of the contest were decided

by those of such higher rank than us,
their word was practically infallible.

If it had been brought to their attention
this poem had existed since ancient times,

it would have been akin
to accusing them of being unenlightened.

I see.

By every right,
Lord Tadami should have won.

No wonder he was devastated by the loss.

[exhales]

So what's our next
course of action, Seimei?

It's quite simple really.

We just need to let him win.

Come again?

We reenact the poetry contest,

then have the judge
tell Lord Tadami he is the winner of it.

Getting everyone who was there
back again sounds like quite the ordeal.

If we have Lord Kanemori and Lord Tadami,

a judge to determine who wins and loses,

and presenters to recite the poems,
that should suffice.

[Hiromasa] You think so?

[Seimei] I will play the judge.

If you reprise your role,
we will just need one more presenter.

[Hiromasa] Can it be anybody?

I guess. As long as that person
does not make a nuisance of themselves.

Someone who is disciplined, and would
stand firm if confronted by a demon.

[Hiromasa] I've got it.

If that's what you need,
I know just the man.

Lord Atsumi is my mentor in music
and has my unconditional trust.

I promise he can hold his own.

[Atsumi] So you would be Lord Seimei.

I appreciate you
looking after my pupil there.

Please, just "Seimei" is enough.

I must confess to you that your pupil
is always causing trouble for me...

Now see here, that is not true at all!

Oh, it is.

-You...
-[Atsumi laughs]

It seems you two really are good friends.

[Hiromasa] Lord Atsumi, please
don't go saying such ludicrous things!

My apologies.

Remind me. You wish me
to recite Lord Tadami's poem?

Yes. It would be a great help.

I'll do my best.

[Tadami] Word of my love...

[Seimei] He's here.

[Kanemori whimpers]

L-Lord Tadami,

if I may, would you like
to have a rematch against me?

And in this contest,
I'll be a more competent judge.

[Atsumi grunts]

[Tadami] Word of my love... Word of my love...

Word of my love...

Lord Tadami.

[Atsumi] Word of my love
Has soon spread far and wide...

[Hiromasa gasps]

Though I just started loving her
And kept it all inside

Forgive me. The poem I used to win
on that day belonged to someone else!

I will inform the emperor at once
that you were the true victor that day.

So please, refrain from engaging
in any more violence.

[Tadami] So bitter.

-[Kanemori whimpers]
-Stay back.

[Tadami] So bitter!

-[Tadami roars]
-[Seimei chants]

[Tadami roars]

[tense music plays]

[Tadami] Word of my love...

-Are you all right, Seimei?
-Yes.

[tense music continues]

Why did he act like that?

I don't know.
Perhaps there's something we're missing.

-[Kanemori] I... might have an idea.
-[Hiromasa] Hm?

It was during the poetry contest.

There was this strange man I saw with him.

Perhaps he has something
to do with Lord Tadami's death.

[flute music plays]

[music fades]

Do you know
why a human turns into a demon?

Did you really go out of your way
to summon me

just to ask me that insipid question?

Only the person who turned into a demon
knows why they did.

Demons are similar in the turning, though.

Admiration, obsession, love and yearning.

Feelings such as those
can overwhelm and strain the heart.

Once it becomes too much to bear,

that's when a human turns.

[gentle ballad plays]

[music fades]